Tire



S. KHALlL Oct. 10, 1950 TIRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SEYED KHAL u.

ATTORNEYS Filed Sept. 17, 1947 5. KHALIL TIRE Filed Sept. 17, 194% 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wmw ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 10, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,525,752

TIRE

Sey'ed Khalil, New York, N. Y.

Application September 17, 1947, Serial No. 774,516

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires, and is more particularly directed to a pneumatic casing which is provided with two separate chambers concentric with each other and separated by an annular member which not only separates the two chambers, but which also braces the side walls of the casing for reducing the lateral flexure of the side walls.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications Serial No. 740,530, filed April 10, 1947, and Serial No. 762,271, filed July 21, 1947.

In the first mentioned copending application, an ordinary casing is divided into two chambers by means of a shield or partition and these chambers are called primary and secondary chambers, respectively. The primary chamber lies between the rim and the shield and the secondary chamber, between the shield and the inner surface of the tread of the casing. A pneumatic tube is positioned in the primary chamber and is called a primary tube and another tube is mounted in the secondary chamber and is called a secondary tube.

The second mentioned copending application describes and shows the individual valves for each of the primary and the secondary tubes and the inflation of these tubes independently of each other.

In these applications, it is described that when the secondary tube is punctured, the primary tube will support the load on the wheel, particularly if the speed of the vehicle is reduced. Thus, it can be seen that in both said copending applications, I have devised two tubes having individual inflating valves and a shielding means between said tubes, to be used in a casing of the prior art.

The flexure of such casings occurs partly in the primary chamber and partly in the secondary chamber due to the fact that the average casing flexes through an arc extending from the tread of the casing to the rim of the wheel when supports the casing. Therefore, the sides of the casing which normally contact the edges of the shield move away from said edges in the part of the casing where the fiexure occurs. In order to prevent either one of the tubes being caught between the sides of the casing and the edges of the shield, it was necessary to apply a fabric to the shield to prevent the tubes from being injured by the shield.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a, casing with annular webs extending toward each other within the casing from I 2 the sides thereof, and a shield interlocking with said webs and thereby functioning as (1) a shield to divide the interior of the casing into two chambers, and (2) as a bracing means for minimizing and/or nullifying the flexure of the side walls of the tire outwardly.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a casing of means within the casing interlocking with the side walls thereof and dividing the casing into two isolated chambers, a separate tube in each chamber, said tubes being individually inflatable, the tube in one of said chambers being inflated to a pressure permitting that section of the casing to be flexed to a minimum, thereby imparting to. it load-supporting qualities, and the tube in the other chamber being inflated to a lower pressure to localize the major portion of a flexure therein for easy riding qualities.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an arrangement such as described above, of a tube in one of the chambers for effecting a fluidtight seal with said dividing means, thereby making the other chamber fluid-tight, and the further provision of means for inflating said fluidtight chamber.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a casing of means within the casing interlocking with the side walls thereof and dividing the casing into two isolated chambers, a separate tube in each chamber, said tubes being individually inflatable, the tube in the chamber next to the wheel supporting the tire being inflated to a, pressure permitting that section of the casing to be flexed a minimum, thereby giving it load supporting qualities, and the tube in the chamber adjacent to the tread being inflated at a lower pressure, whereby the major portion of the fiexure is localized in said last mentioned chamber for easy riding qualities.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision in a casing of means to damp the flexing of the side walls thereof, which includes annular webs formed integral with said side walls and extending toward each other within the interior of the casing, each of said webs carrying engageable grooves and a laminated interlocking shield member within said casing, at least one of said laminae having extensions adapted to engage said locking grooves and form with said webs, bracing means extending through said tire from side wall to side wall, thereby dividing the interior into two isolated chambers.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a casing of means to damp the flexing of the side walls thereof, which includes annular webs formed integral with said side walls and extending toward each other within the interior of the casing, each of said webs carrying engageable grooves and a laminated interlocking shield member within said casing, each of said laminae carrying hook means adapted to engage said grooves and form with said webs, bracing means extending through said tire from side wall to side wall, thereby dividing the interior into two isolated chambers.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a casing intermediate the distance between the tread and the rim upon which the casing is mounted, a nodal annulus in which fiexure is discouraged, leaving the greatest amplitude of fiexure in a zone intermediate said nodal annulus and said tread, and in a second zone intermediate said nodal annulus and the rim upon which said tire is mounted. This is not only important in normal use of the tire but is also particularly important when the vehicle upon which the tire is mounted is going around curves, because in the latter instance, the fiexure in tires of the prior art is a maximum in the zone corresponding to the zone in which I have the nodal annulus, and consequently have a minimum of flexure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of my new and improved tire mounted on a rim, certain portions having been cut away to show the interior;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of my new and improved tire, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly broken away, showing my new and improved laminated shield and bracing member, one face being partly broken away to show the tabs or hooks formed on the outer one of the two ring laminations;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the interlocking hated rings, forming the shield and brace of Figure 4 and showing the interlocking of the two laminated ring members by means of dowels and dowel holes;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View of a portion of one of the laminated rings showing the tabs or hook members before they are bent at right angles to the ring per se;

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6, except that the hooks or tabs have been bent at right angles to the web of the ring, itself;

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 2, except that it represents a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 2, wherein the interior of the casing is divided into two chambers, one of which is adapted to contain a pneumatic tube and the other of which is adapted to form an air chamber without a tube therein and which also may include a self-healing compound adapted to heal punctures formed in the casing 4 one method of delivering air to the tubeless chas her in the modification shown in Figure 8.

Referring first to Figure l, a wheel rim 2!) has my new and improved casing, generally designated by the numeral 22, mounted thereon. The rim it may have a hole formed therein to accommodate a valve stem 23 which is used to inhate the tube 25, and a second hole to accommodate a valve stem 25, which is used to inflate the tube 26. Vithin the casing, between the tubes and is a combination bracing member and shield, generally designated by the numeral 2i.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the casing 22 has a tread 2! secured to the curved portion 28 of the casing structure. The inner surface 29 of the structure 28 is curved laterally from the point 36 to the point 3i and forms the outer boundary of the chamber which is occupied by the tube 24. This chamber, according to the afore-mentioned copending applications, is termed a secondary chamber. Forming a continuation of the surface 29 from the point 3%, is a curved surface 29a of a substantially shorter radius than the curve of the surface 29.

Extending inwardly from the wall of the structure 28 below the curved portions 29 and 28a is an annular web 32 which extends within the casing toward the opposite wall thereof. The upper surface of this web, as may be seen in Figure 2, is curved. with what is the equivalent of a large chami er and beneath the chamier and extending into the web 32 from its lower surface is an annular groove 33. The right edge of the annular groove 33 terminates in the normal under-surface 32d of th web 32 and the left edge 01 the groove '53 has a stepped portion 3212 against which my new and improved shielding and bracing means, which will presently be described, rests, with the result that the under-surface of the shielding and bracing'means is substantially flush with the surface 3261. Where the lower surface 32a of the annular web 32 joins the inner surface 38 of the side wall portion 28a (which forms a wall of the primary chamber) a smooth hollow curve 380: is provided. This curve would correspond to a fillet which lends rigidity and strength to the annular web 32 and insures that if there is any flexing in the chamber occupied by the tube 26, the amplitude of such flexing will occur in the side wall 28a between the curved portion 52a and the bead edge M which engages the rim upon which the casing is mounted.

Within the casing and extending laterally toward and in alignment with the annular web 32 is a second annular web 35. This annular web is not seen in Figure 2, in view of the fact that it is notched, as shown in Figure 3, to accommodate a filler member which is formed integral with the inflating valve, still to be presently described. However, a fragmentary portion of the web 35 is shown in Figure 3, and an annular groove 36 is formed therein and is preferably identical with the annular groove 33.

Within the chamber which accommodates the tube 2 5, the inner surface 292) is curved, and due to the fact that the annular web 35 is formed integral with the wall of the casing, fiexure of the casing is discouraged in the area adjacent to the annular web 35. In fact, the annular webs 32 and when interlocked with the bracing means to be presently described, may be said to constitute nodal rings in which fiexure is discouraged and consequently reduced to a minimum. The side wall 28b terminates in a bead ring 32. The space between the annular webs 32 and 35 is provided so that the tube 24 may be easily placed in the secondary chamber El. A clearance slot 39 is formed in the annular web to accommodate the stem ifl'of the inflating valve 23 which is provided for inflating the tube 24. This stem may be secured to a reinforcing plate 4! with an air hole 42 therein matching the air passage 43 in the stem 49 and also matching the air hole 44, so that air may pass from the passage 63 into the tube 24. Secured to the stem 46 and to the surface of the tube 24 is a filler member 45 which ma b made of any desirable material. However, I prefer to form this of rubber. The filler member has formed therein a slot 46 which, when the tube 24 and. the stem are positioned in the casing, coincides with the groove 36 formed in the web as the filler member fills up the slot 39. When the tube 24 and the stem 46 are installed as described, the valve stem 23 extends through the opening in the casing, ready to be inserted in the hole provided for it in the rim Ell, as the casing is bein mounted on the rim 20.

The next step is to position my new andimproved shield and bracing member in the casing. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the shield and bracing member is formed of a spring ring 41 interlocked with a second spring ring 48. The spring ring 47 carries a dowel pin 49 adjacent to the end Ella thereof, and a second dowel pin 50 adjacent to the end 4711) thereof. The dowel pin 49 fits in a hole 5! and the dowel pin 56 fits in a hole 52. Spaced apart approximately 120 from the point of adjacency of the ends of the. ring ll are the ends 48a and 48b of the ring 48. Adjacent to the end 48a of the ring 48 is a dowel hole 53 which accommodates a dowel pin M carried by the ring 41, and adjacent to the end 481) of the ring 45 is a hole 55 which accommodates a dowel pin 56 carried by the ring 47. The ring 4'! has disposed about its circumference along each edge thereof, a plurality of projecting tabs 5"], and the ring 48 has disposed about each edge of its circumference a plurality of tabs 58. These tabs extend radially and consequently lie in planes cutting the axis of theshielding and bracing member in four planes spaced apart from each other.

In forming the shielding and bracing rings, the form of blank is shown in Figure 6, and Figure 7 shows the ring after it has been formed by bonding the tabs. designated by the numeral 4? and the tabs are designated by the numerals 5i. InFigure 6,the tabs 57 lie flat just as they are blanked from the dies, and in Figure 7, thetabs 5? are shown as bent to form right angles with the web ll. forming the web 68,- the blank is like the blank shown in Figure 6, except that the web is slightly narrower and the tabs are also slightly narrower.

In positioning the shield and bracing member in the casing, Figure 2, the ring 48 is first spiraled up so that it will be small enough to be inserted in the opening in the casing. After it is inserted and released, it tends, due to the fact that. it is preferably made of spring material, to. expand to its full diameter, and it is only necessary to make sure that the tabs 58 engage the sides of the grooves 33 and 36 and that the ends of the ring abut each other. Then, the ring 4? spire-led up in the same manner so that it maybe inserted in the casing, and as it is released, it necessary for the operator to insure registration of the dowel pins with the dowel holes. If the operator makes sure that the dowel pin 50, for example, engages the dowel hole 52, he is off to a good start. Then, he makes sure that the dowel pins 54 and In Figure 6, the web of thering is f 56 engage the holes 53 and '55, respectively, and then he will find it very easy to engage the dowel pin 49 with the dowel hole 5|, and thus the two spring rings are in position in th casing.

The operator may then insert the tube 26 in the casing with its valve stem 25 in the proper position. I have found that it is expedient to rovide a marker on the casing bead 31' to guide the operator in positioning the valve stem 23, and the provision of a second marker on the bead 31 indicates the position of the valve stem 25.

After the tube 26 has been properly inserted in the casing, the whole array is read to be mounted on the rim 2!]. The first step is to position the valve stems 23 and 25 in corresponding holes in the rim and then to work the casing onto the rim in each direction around the circle from the valves so that the last portion of the tire placed on the rim is diametrically opposite the valve stems 23 and 25. Obviously, a little air may be inserted into both tubes to facilitate the mounting of the array on the rim.

Since the tubes are individually inflatable, they may be inflated in accordance with the type of service desired. For example, if it is desired to have the flexure localized in the outer chamber (the chamber between the tread and the shielding and bracing means), the tube 24 may be inflated to a lower pressure than that of the tube 26, in which event, most of the fiexure of the casing will be localized in said chamber. For other types of service, the pressure arrangements in the two tubes ma be varied in accordance with the results desired. When the tube 26 is inflated (Figure 9) a portion 26a of its wall embraces or spans the stem 40, thereby holding it firmly against the inner surface of the casing wall 2812. By providing the stem 40 with fabric or other reinforcing means 40a, the stem is prevented from collapsing under the urge of the pressure in the tube 25.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 10, those parts which are identical with those shown in Figure 2 are given the same numerals and the new elements are given different numerals. In this modification, the outer chamber is rendered fluid-tight by the tube in thechamber between the shielding and bracing means and the rim so that it may be inflated without the necessity of having to have a tube therein.

Referring to Figures 8 and 10, the casing 22 is mounted on a rim 2E which may have a hole formed therein to accommodate a valve stem. 60 which is used to inflate the chamber 6|. A second hole in the rim accommodates valve stem 25: which is used to inflate tube 26. Within the cas ing, dividing the interior thereof into the cham-- ber GI and the chamber E2 which contains thetube 26, is my new and improved combination. bracing member and shield, generally designated by the numeral 2 l, and which is comprised of annular spring rings 41 and 48.

The casing 22 has a tread 2i secured to the curved portion 28 of the casing structure. The inner surface 29 of the structure 23 is curved laterally from the point 38 to the point 3! and may be coated with a layer 63 of material adapted to enter into and stop leaks through holes formed in the casing in or adjacent to the tread 2?. This surface 29, together with the layer 53, forms the outer boundary of the chamber 6|. Forming a continuation of the surface 29 from the point 36, is a curved surface 29a. of substantially shorter radius than that of the surface 29.

Extending inwardly from the wall of the structure 23 below the curved portions 29 and 29a is annular web which extends within the casing toward the opposite wall thereof. The upper surface of this web is curved to form a large 'chamfer and beneath the chamfer and extending into the web 32 from its lower surface is an annular groove The right edge of the annular groove terminates in the normal under-surface 2a of the web 32 and the left edge of the groove has a stepped portion 32?) against which my new and improved shielding and bracing means rests, with the result that the undersurface of the shielding and bracing means is substantially flush with the surface 3211..

Where the lower surface 32a, of the annular surface 32 joins the inner surface 38 of the side wall portion 28a, which forms a wall of the prim y sham a smooth hollow curve 62a is pro- This curve forms a fillet which lends r idity and strength to the annular web 32 and ir ures that any flexing which occurs in the side wall of the casing is localized either in one or in both of said .ers according to the ratio In other words, the annular web forms a nodal annulus in which flexi g is discouraged.

of the pressures therebetween.

The portv n of the side wall 23a term a bead edge at least in its radially inner end,

threads on a nipple 68, which is a stem 89, which is emvalvestem 1 d of the stem The .ery ranch in the same manabove described, and it inby corresponding ..s construct s the stem eludes reinforcement 89o which may be fabric,

material.

.s an annular groove 36 formed w the under-surface of the web is ct! same manner as described "h under-surfaces 32a and or any ot The weo tire OI Ll1 modified form, Figure 8, the bracing and and il respectively, are the some manner as -onection th Figure 2, with the exception -t the tube in the secondary chamber 65' is omitt' l. The stem is mounted in the casing by threadedly engaging the threads on the ni fie 65 with the internal threads ill formed in the insert and screwing the nipple descri El i in until a seal is ehfected, making sure that the valve stem in a position to extend through the hole provided in the rim for that purpose. After the shield and bracing members 38 and ll have been mounted in the casing and interlocked by engaging the dowels with the dowel holes, the tube 26 is placed in the chamber 52 with its valve stem the proper distance away from the valve stem 86 and then the casing is mounted on the rim.

In mounting the casing, the first step is to positb :eads adapted to be engaged 8 tion the casing so that the valve stems 68 and 25 register with corresponding holes in the rim and then the casing is gradually placed onto the rim in the manner described above in connection with Figure 2.

When the tube 26 is inflated, the portion 26a thereof is forced into sealing engagement with the lower surface of the ring ll and is also forced into sealing contact with the lower surfaces of the webs 82 and 35, thereby isolating the chamher 6% from the chamber 52 and making the chamber El fiuid tight, so that when air is pumped into the chamber 85 via 68 and 69, the chamber filwili receive and retain air at the desired pressure forced into the chamber ill via valve stem In the present instance, the pressure in the chamber 6! and the pressure in the tube 26 in the chamber 62 may be regulated in accordance with the result desired. In other words, if it is desired to have the maximum flexure of the easing localized to the chamber 65, the pressure in the chamber Bl may be made lower than that of the pressure in the tube 26.

In the areas outside of the webs 32 and 35, the flexure is, due to the structure of the casing, and due to the presence of the interlocking bracing member, an irreducible minimum.

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided in this invention a new and improved casing in which the fiexure is controlled and localized into a desired portion or portions of the casing in accordance with the result desired.

If fiexure occurs in the secondary chamber, before the primar chamber undergoes any flexure, the time lag between the fiexure of the secondary chamber and the time fiexure takes place in the primary chamber; depends upon the degrees of air pressure in the chambers. It can be seen that at certain stages, the cushioning of my casing is due to both secondary and primary flexure. This, I provide what might be termed a compound cushion.

Although I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and a modification thereof, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangements herein shown and described within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tire, a casing having engageable annular extensions formed integral with the side walls thereof intermediate the tread and the bead of said casing, and removable means within the casing interlocking with said annular extensions to form nodal annulae therein, thereby defining on either side thereof localized zones in which maximum amplitudes of flexure may occur in said side walls.

2. A. casing having a tread and side walls, means for damping fiexure midway said side walls comprised of aligned annular webs extending laterally toward each other from said side walls within said casing, and bracing and shielding means removably mounted in said casing in interlocking relation with said webs.

V 3. A casing having a tread and side walls, means for damping said side walls against flexure substantially midway between said tread and the rim upon which said casing is mounted, comprised of annular non-metallic extensions of said side walls extending laterally toward each other within said casing intermediate the tread and the bead of said casing, and metallic bracing and shielding means removably mounted in said casing in interlocking relation with said exten- 510118.

4. In a tire, a casing having a tread and side walls, aligned annular webs formed integral with said walls intermediate the tread and the bead of said casing and extending toward each other within said casing, bracing and shielding means removably mounted in said casing in interlocking relation with said webs and dividing the interior of said casing into two concentric annular chambers,. and at least one inflatable tube positioned within one of said chambers.

5. In a tire, a casing having a tread and side walls, annular webs formed integral with said side walls and extending laterally toward each locked with and detachably secured to the side other within said casing, said webs being spaced apart from said tread, annular grooves formed in said extensions, and bracing and shielding means separably mounted in said casing and carrying extensions adapted to engagesaid grooves.

6. The invention according to claim 5, in which said bracing and shielding means is comprised of two interlocking spring rings which are doweled annular pneumatic chambers divided by an annular wall detachably interlocked with the side walls thereof intermediate the tread andthe bead of said casing, and an inflated tube in at least one of said chambers.

9. In a tire, a casing having two concentric annular pneumatic chambers divided by an annular wall detachably interlocked with the side walls thereof intermediate the tread and the bead of said casing, said annular wall lying in a substantially narrow zone concentric with said tread and said bead, at least one of said chambers being adapted to contain a fully inflated tube when said casing is mounted on a supporting rim. I

10. In a tire, a casing having two concentric annular pneumatic chambers, and means to reinforce the side walls of said casing, said means being formed in part of non-metallic extensions of the side walls of said casing intermediate the tread and the beads of said casing and extending walls of said casing and common to both said chambers to prevent a zone at the intersection of said chambers from expanding as said chambers are flexed.

13. In a tire, a casing having two concentric annular pneumatic chambers, an inflatable air tube in at least one of said chambers, and an annular partition detachably interlocked with the side Walls of said casing andcommon to both said chambers to prevent a zone at the intersection of said chambers from expanding due to the inflation of said tube.

14. In a pneumatic tire, a casing, an annular base member therein having its opposite edges detachably interlocked with the side walls of said casing approximately midway between the tread and the bead of said casing for dividing said casing into two concentric annular chambers, said annular member functioning both to form. a dividing wall between and also to immobilize said side walls against flexure in a neutral zone between said chambers, while each of the chambers themselves are free to flex in. localized central zones. 1

15. A casing having a tread and side walls, means for damping flexure midway said side walls, comprised of annular means detachably interlocked with and extendingv laterally from one to the other of said side walls across said casing and lying in a lateral zone intermediate and spaced apart from both said tread and said bead, thereby dividing said casing into two spaced concentric sections, said wall forming a substantially non-expansible brace for discouraging variations of the thickness of said casing axially when the same is subjected to a load.

SEYED KHALIL.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 997,443 Dunn- July 11, 1911 1,600,989 Meyer: Sept. 25, 1926 1,697,438 Wagenhorst Jan. 1, 1929 1,962,143 Ford June 12, 1934 2,224,066 Shore Dec. 3, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date -1,499 Great Britain 1906 222,478 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1924 

